John Towne, b. April 02, 1658   4/2/02

"He was an efficient man in town affairs at Topsfield. He moved from Topsfield to Framingham, and at the first town meeting of the inhabitants of Framingham, held the 5th of August 1700, he was elected a Select-man."
He removed to Oxford in 1713, and was one of the original settlers of that town. At the first town meeting held there he was chosen Town Clerk and a Selectman.  He was one of four persons who met to deliberate about the formation of a church, and at its organization, January 21, 1721, he was made Deacon, which office he held until his death.
John Town, while a Selectman of Oxford, and others, petitioned the General Court, stating that the town consisted of but thirty families; that the charge of supporting a minister lies heavy upon them; that they have little or no assistance from non-resident land-owners; that they are about to erect a meeting-house, and pray that the Court would order that the proprietors of unimproved lands may give them assistance. The Court ordered a tax of 20/- per annum for five years on each 1,000 acres owned by non-residents.

At Topsfield until 1698, when he removed to Framingham.  (George Towne book)

7/11/1700;  Petitioned Court to answer concerns relating to Late Governor Danforth's property.  (History of Framingham)

8/5/1700;  First town meeting in Framingham, he was chosen Selectman, and often afterwards as well.  (George Towne book)

5/13/1701;  To get opinion of three ordained ministers if John Swift appropriate choice as new minister for town.  (History of Framingham)

5/22/1701;  To give call to new minister, Mr. Swift.  (History of Framingham)

1/13/1702;  Chose to seat the meeting house.  (History of Framingham)
11/24/1704;  Bequest in father's will;  Son John and daughter Ruth to have equal share of land he lived on and not otherwise disposed of, together with outbuildings thereon and all movables, they to provide comfortable maintenance for wife Catherine and son Edmond and pay his debts and funeral expenses (George Towne book)

1705;  Settled father's estate as executor.  (George Towne book)
  9/11/1706; Sold to brother Jacob for 55 pounds, his right and interest in and to father's estate at Topsfield.  (George Towne book)
1707;  From Colonel Joseph Buckminster bought 211 1/2 acres on the w slope of Bare Hill, bounded by Sudbury River on the south and taking in the old Amasa Kendall place.  Property at Framingham bounded e by John Swift, elsewhere on Moses Haven and Bare Hill.  He occupied where Aaron Bullard lived, and his house was probably near there.  As was customary of Mr. Buckminster, he gave a lease of the 211 acres at first and later a deed.   A portion of this property was in 1940 owned and occupied by Harry and Ida Neary.  The house he lived in was said to have been  in the rear of the home of the Nearys.   (George Towne book;  History of Framingham, Massachusetts 1640 - 1880)

6/27/1710;  Taxed to procure ammunition - 3s  (History of Framingham)
3/13/1711;  Given warranty deed to property above leased of Joseph Buckminster.  The consideration was for 72 pounds current money of New England. (George Towne book)

3/24/1712;   To procure as addition to town ammunition supply - 1#  (History of Framingham)

"....Jacob, son of William.....John, son of Jacob....came in 1713 at 55 years of age among the 30 settlers from Framingham to Ox., and at the first town meeting was chosen town clerk and selectman, and continued to occupy prominent public positions and to have the confidence of the community during his life.  He was a leader in the formation of the Church, one of four who met at his house for this purpose, and was its first deacon.  His abilities, character and experience fitted him to be what he in fact was, the Nestor of the new settlement.  His house lot, which adjoined the North Common he sold nearly ten years before his decease to his son Jonathan. "   (History of Oxford - page 720)

1713;  Grantee and Proprietor of the Oxford township.  (History of Framingham)
5/29/1713;  Sold 190 acres to Jonathan Maynard and removed to Oxford, Massachusetts.  He was among the first 30 settlers from Framingham to Oxford, and was 55 years old at the time.  (George Towne book)

7/22/1713;   At the first town meeting he was chosen town clerk and selectman, and continued to occupy prominent public positions and to have the confidence of the community during his life.  He was a leader in the formation of the church.  His abilities and character fitted him to be what he in fact was, the Nestor of the new settlement.  (George Towne book)

11/1713;  John Town, Samuel Hagburn, and Benjamin Chamberlain chosen to lay out a minister's lot and burying ground.  Latter located w of the common.   (History of Oxford page 220)

1/1714;  John Town and Abiel Lamb chosen to judge the worth of an orchard sold by the town to Ebenezer Humphrey.  It was a Hugenot orchard.  It did not go into his possession.   (History of Oxford page 228)

3/30/1714;  Voted to build a pound two rods square to be set on the w side of the 8 rod way, against the 6 rod way, to be built by John Town by the last of next May, each freeholder to pay a day's work or 2s 6d in money.  (History of Oxford page 221)

7/29/1714;  John Town, Benjamin Chamberlain and Isaac Larned chosen to be on building committe for the first meeting-house.  (History of Oxford - page 82)

1/29/1717; John Town, Richard Moore, Ebenezer Learned, Isaac Larned, Benoni Twitchell were chosen to "take in and dispose of" the money voted for the new meeting-house.   (History of Oxford - page 83)

1/27/1718;  Philip Amidown, Ebenezer Learned and John Town chosen in committee to build the meeting house.  (History of Oxford - page 83)

 In 1720 John Towne (son of Jacob Towne, & 1st cousin of Samuel's wife) , Samuel Barton, Abiel Lamb, & Joseph Wiley, all members of other churches, met together & declared that they would do all that they could to found & build a church of Christ in Oxford. Finally, on 1/3/1720/1, the church was formally organized with the assistance of Rev. Josiah Dwight of Woodstock, Rev. Joseph Dorr of Mendon, & others.  "The New England Historical and Genealogical Register" Vol 84 Oct. 1930 pg 403 & 404
12/12/1720;  The second 60 acre division of lands among proprietors, John Town drew lot no. 30.   (History of Oxford page 207)

1/15/1721;  Dismissed from Framingham to form church in Oxford, Massachusetts. 1st Deacon.  1 of 4 who met to form church at Oxford, and at it's organization chosen Deacon - a position he held until death.   (The Descendants of William Towne - Edwin Eugene Towne;  History of Framingham)

John Town, deacon 3/18/1721

1724;  A copy of the clause in the will of Mr. Samuel Hagburn giving 50 pounds "for the use and benefit of the church as they shall think fit to lay out or dispose of for any pious use."  On 4 July 1726, it was voted to put the said bequest out at interest, and Dea. John Town, Isaac Larned and Philip Amidown were chosen to take charge of it." (History of Oxford - page 52)
Abt 1730;  Sold house lot (#5) in Oxford to son Jonathan.  (George Towne book)

Joseph Stevens residence, Oxford, MA
The home lot of John Town. 12/9/1731, John Town to his son Jonathan, 50 a; 4/3/1753, Jonathan Town to his son John, captain in Revolutionary War; 6/2/1788, John Town to William Phips of Ward; Town removed to Ward; 11/4/1794, William Phips to William Forbes who d. there 1808; 4/22/1811, heirs of Forbes to Alpheus Eddy; 3/28/1820, Alpheus Eddy to Dexter Tiffany; 3/7/1822, Dexter Tiffany to Alexander C. Thurston; 3/17/1830, Alexander C. Thurston to Josiah S. Prentice, who d there.  His w. was before m. the widow of Joseph Stevens.  Her son Joseph Stevens lived with Prentice and later occupied the house alone.  House rebuilt by him 1877.   (History of Oxford page 343)
3/1/1735;  John Town deeded to Caleb Lamb of Pomfret, CT.  Lamb sold, 4/29/1736, to Jacob Cummings, "with a sawmill thereon", undoubtedly built by Lamb.  On 4/1764;  Benjamin Davis and William Lamb quitclaimed to Learned  as follows; "all their right in and to the stream and rocks in the river in Oxford, in the farm they had of Joseph Rocket, and since we have sold all on the w side to Daniel Phillips and to others all on the e side, the river and privileges  thereof not included, and whereas the said Learned owns a sawmill on said river and the stones and privileges of the stream will be of advantage to him and as his land joins upon it, etc."  (this property of Davis and Lamb, had been purchased from Joseph Rocket who was partner to William Lamb) Here for many years, excepting when in the public service, Gen. Learned managed his saw mill.  In June 1799, he sold 24 acres, including, as supposed, the Phillips house, to Thomas Parker. In April 1802, Gen. Learned having died, Sylvanus, his son and executor,  sold at auction the saw mill "near the house of Thomas Parker" to Andrew  Sigourney. It later came into the possession of Parker, who on Oct. 1811 deeded the "Phillips place" 76 acres with the saw mill to Sylvanus Pratt, who built a blacksmith shop with two tilt hammers and dug the canal from the pond, and for a time manufactured scythes.  In April 1814, he sold to Abijah Abbott and Jonathan Rice, brother in law of Pratt, who continued the making of scythes.  Abbott sold April 7, 1817, to Rice, who continued blacksmithing in its various branches until 1831, and returned to Millbury.  On Feb. 5, 1831, Rice sold to Asa Cutler and Joseph Stafford, 34 acres lf land with water power and buildings.   (History of Oxford page 206-7, 328)  Later Reuben Lamb Homestead.

1740;  Will proven.   (History of Framingham)  Death not recorded at Oxford, Topsfield, Belchertown or Boxford.
"Item. To well beloved son Israel, 20 shillings in money to be paid to him....immediately after my decease.  To Mary, daughter of said Israel, 20 shillings to be paid immediately after my decease....he has heretofore received his full part of my estate.
Item.  To son Ephraim, 40 acres of land, being part of the first 60 acre division laid out to me and lying in the first range of such divisions lying on the north part of the Hill in Oxford Village, commonly known as Prospect Hill, on which he lately dwelt and of which he disposed with my consent, also 5 shillings in money.
Item.  To son David, the 60 acres of land and the lot meadow in sd. Oxford Village lying on the plain called Town's Plain, on which he lately dwelt and of which he disposed with my consent, also 5 shillings in money.
Item.  To son Samuel, 10 acres of land being a part of the 60 acre lot...of which I gave 40 acres to Ephraim.
Item.  To son Edmund, the equal half of my right in the cedar swamp together with 10 acres of the 60 acre lot, of which I gave 40 to Ephraim and 10 to Samuel.
Item.  To son John Town, 12 acres of land...between land of Jonathan Pratt Jr. and my son Jonathan, together with the equal half of all my after divisions of land in Oxford and ye equal 1/2 of my cedar swamp.
Item.  I give and bequeath all my household stuff and plonishings after my own and my wife's decease equally between my daughter Esther Mellins or her heirs and my grandaughter Mary Cloyes.
Item.  Finally I give and bequeath to my son Jonathan...my home lot whereon I dwell with all my buildings, with all appurtenances, etc. together with all meadows now belonging to said lot or farm, with all horses, oxen, cows, sheep and cattle, husbandry tools, implements and utensils... and the equal half of all my other divisions in said Oxford."
Jonathan named executor.  (George Towne book)

The first of the family to drop the e in Towne.  (The Descendants of William Towne - Edwin Eugene Towne)[Clayes.ftw]
 

Letter to the Editor:  "Thank you for the copy of "About Towne" with my article on Clara Barton. For you members who might be interested in visiting some of the Salem End sites in Framingham, there are five homes from that era that are still standing:
Peter and Sarah Cloyes House - 657 Salem End Road
Caleb Bridges House - Gates Street near Country Club Lane
Nurse Homestead - 890 Salem End Road
John Towne House - 225 Maple Street
Israel Towne House - 67 Salem End Road.
All the houses have historical markers except the Nurse Homestead which has recently changed hands from an institutional owner to a private family, and will have a marker as soon as renovations are completed. A visit to our Old Burying Ground on Main Street will yield many memorials to family names such as Clayes/Cloyes, Nourse, and Bridges, although the Townes tended to move on to other towns.  There is only one Towne grave marker there, for Louisa Towne (1814-1867), indicating that she was the wife of Joseph B. Towne. The earliest marker relating to the Salem End families is for Benjamin Bridges, Sarah Cloyes' son by her first marriage.  It is of rough field stone, and the crudely cut epitaph says, "When he served his generation, by the will of God he fell asleep." He died on 1723.
Stephen Herring Framingham Town Historian.  (About Towne, Volume XVIII, No. 2 June 1998)